The Cold Calling Venture

30 replies
Hey everyone! I have been studying the offline section for awhile and would like to implement some of the things I have learned into selling webdesign or mobile sites for businesses over the phone. I have mostly been looking over John Durham's, Jason Kanigan's, Ken Michael's, and Iamnameless's posts, blogs, and scripts.

I am posting this for any advice people would like to give me on my method I will be using and to update in the coming weeks with my results.

I will be cold calling 5-6 days a week with a minimum of 300 calls a day to meet my goal of 2 web design sales a week for the cost of $500 each.

I was going to create a rather large list days before I start. The list would consist of businesses without websites who make from $500k - $2-3 Million. But now I'm not so sure about using such a list, because of postings I have seen on the offline section.

For my pitch I was considering John Durham's pitch in his offline report or perhaps Jason Kanigans.

That's about as much as I have come up with so far. Any suggestions on what I could do to benefit my venture?

Any particular tips on the best route for asking for the close?

Thanks to all!
#calling #cold #venture
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Theres only one problem with this plan..... Its not going to work out like you think and if you ask I will tell you why.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Well Jason, Im surprised you didnt catch the glitch...

    Simple. Theres NO WAY if he truly does that plan that he's only going to get 2 $500 sales per week.

    Its a bust, forget about it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Ha! I thought it was going to be this.

    The OP will have to stick to it for a bit to get past the tough period. And stick to one method, not jump around. But yes, there should be plenty of "lie-downs" out there to pick up with 1500 calls a week.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    No doubt.

    I can say for sure that 90% of the people who say they are dialing a hundred numbers per day arent even close.

    I have had several people book dialer time at TMF, and tell me it didnt work after being on the phone for "two hours straight..." then I go into the backend and look up their stats, only to find that they were logged into the dialer for 2 hours but their actual time in between pauses (talk time) was only like 11 minutes or something and they spent most of their time fiddling with note books and hanging out for ten minutes in between calls...

    A real session is dialing a new number every 30 seconds unless you are pitching.

    In other words, most of these horror stories are from people who are imagining that they are on the phone more than they really are. Its that way with call centers too...most of the excuses are proven to be myths when you look up the stats.

    Telemarketers lie to themselves, but hard numbers never do.

    On another note, some telemarketer "haters" come here and pretend they are dialing for weeks on end, and come report every five minutes about how hard it is, in a preconceived, long suffering effort to destroy our credibility as telemarketing teachers. Believe it, that happens too. So you have to watch who is asking you for help, sometimes its a set up.

    Most TM managers can tell you what your problem is without even looking at your stats because we see the same stories over and over and over and over....and every single one thinks they are unique.

    I know its hard to believe people set you up like that too, but they do. Anonymity on the internet causes all kinds of strange behavior, especially in the hands of the immature.
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      I have had several people book dialer time at TMF, and tell me it didnt work after being on the phone for "two hours straight..." then I go into the backend and look up their stats, only to find that they were logged into the dialer for 2 hours but their actual time in between pauses (talk time) was only like 11 minutes or something and they spent most of their time fiddling with note books and hanging out for ten minutes in between calls...
      Exactly.

      It's like an IMer saying he/she worked 12 hours straight and got nothing accomplished.

      They may have sat at the computer for 12 hours, but 11 1/2 of those were on Twitter and Facebook.

      Good point.
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      "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Very true. I've coached a lot of people and if you leave them alone they think they did more than they actually accomplished.

    It will all come down to how bad the OP wants it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    I need to do it for myself. I agree it will probably take me awhile to get used to it and fluent but John is 100% right when he talks about conditioning.

    I need to succeed and not be the same place in my life 2, 5, or 10 years from now.

    I am going to do my best and do the required work and number of calls to accomplish my goals. Thanks all for the inspiration
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    Thanks guys, I appreciate it. WF and the people on it have taught me a majority of what I know.

    You two especially. John do you have any other audio files like the conditioning one?

    I listened to Jason's it was great. Just wanted to have something I could listen to and learn from while mowing my yard.
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by Mav91890 View Post


      You two especially. John do you have any other audio files like the conditioning one?

      I have a TON of them...

      This one here is pretty cool. It took me a few minutes to warm up ... but after it warms up its good. At the end there is a slight sales pitch (okay "hard core" one lol), but worse case scenario you get to hear me pitching you some services, and maybe get a nug from it or something on how to pitch. lol

      Its not spam because the offer is closed now.

      There are a bunch around here, some are more light hearted and others are more hardcore, but give this one a try and see if you get anything.

      http://www.mediafire.com/?ev49cmrwdkvbljy

      Ps. Please remember also, that you dont have to be super hyper like I get on this audio in places...I was a good telemarketer LOOOONG before I was a good "talker"- so if you look at this and say "I dont have that type of persona so how can John help me?"- Then you will be worried over nothing. Motivational speaking and telemarketing are different. I dont talk like that on the phone. This is the motivational hat.

      Here's the truth, as long as you can deliver the message you will get sales so you dont have to sound like me or like Jason... you can even have broken english. Telemarketing is a numbers game.

      Im not saying Im a great speaker, Im just saying that sometimes people liten to this stuff and come back saying "I dont talk the way you do, so you cant help me". Not true. I have helped many telemarketers who are from all ends of the spectrum.

      I was a pot head kid when I started and I didnt speak very well at all.

      This may not do anything but just Pump you up, its not real educational, more inspirational.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    I won't stop till I hit my daily goal then maybe replenish my list and post some classifieds. Going to be hard as to how I actually keep track of the number or calls. Don't want to manually count them.

    Will probably be using VOIP until I get my landline cable fixed.
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    LoL, thanks John, you are the man. Will take a listen and when I finish I'll tell you what I think
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author club20coaching
    2 websites!!! ummm dude think big!! 300 calls per day I could clost 7-8 deals per week! but that's a lot of calls! I worked as one of the top sales guys for Quicken Loans I was in the top 5 of 2000 sales men!! 2 sales per week!!! come on 300 calls per day is well over 1000 calls per week and if you are only getting 2 lol You are doing something wrong! I get 2 per week with craigs list lol... cold calling works well!! Set a higher goal man
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    • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
      Originally Posted by club20coaching View Post

      I get 2 per week with craigs list lol...
      How many ads are you dealing with to do that? And is that in community? Or services/gigs?
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      “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    I just said two because I wanted to be able to hit it. Then when I do, move it up to 3-5. Trust me, I don't want to settle at 2.

    I'm brand new to cold calling besides some sales with Vector and younger when i raised funds for a church I used to attend.
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author payoman
    I struggled with reaching 150 calls per day, let alone 300, phew.

    You may get burnt out doing THAT many per day. If you missed my thread, I ended up with about 3 sales after a week of about 500 calls total, if that's any indication.

    I think my pitch got pretty lazy by the end of that week though, so don't think that's the best you can get, by any means!
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by payoman View Post

      I struggled with reaching 150 calls per day, let alone 300, phew.

      You may get burnt out doing THAT many per day. If you missed my thread, I ended up with about 3 sales after a week of about 500 calls total, if that's any indication.

      I think my pitch got pretty lazy by the end of that week though, so don't think that's the best you can get, by any means!
      Keep doing whatever worked for you payoman, if your pitch starts getting lazy, just change your vibe to pitching laid back but keep saying the same thing and doing the same thing.

      The biggest cause of failure after your first sales around here is that people quit doing what worked for them.

      Just some encouragement.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    Payoman, if you dont mind me asking. What script were you using? One that's been posted here or did you make up your own?
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    Also, I will be closing over the phone, not doing appointments. I'm not sure which you did.
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author payoman
    Closed over the phone, used John Durhams free telemarketing report.

    Thread : http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...ml#post6531496
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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    Yeah I did actually get to gloss over your thread. Good stuff man, keep it up. Idk about you but just people like John & Jason helping me out means the world to me

    Keep it up guys
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    John listening to your audio file now, good stuff like usual. I think you are a great speaker and definitely keep me engaged while listening to it.
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author Bayo
    Why cold call?

    What happened to all the other available methods that are more effective than cold calling?

    You'd better have some really thick skin as you embark on this cold calling venture.

    If you do have to cold call I would like to suggest you try a 2-step approach that I use in the rare circumstance that I have to 'cold call.'

    Here's the overview.

    Call up and when you get someone on the phone (doesn't matter so much who it is but if you can get to the owner assuming it's a small business that would certainly help) ask the person the question that "Hi, if I have a [report, video, audio ... whatever) to that shows how to [fill-in-the-blank with what you can save or make the business e.g double sales, reduce patient attrition, reactivate patients e.t.c ... whatever the problem you solve is] who would I need to send it to?"

    That's an outline that you can tweak to use among any others you may have heard about.

    It allows you to lead with value and allows you to subtly get the business to pre-qualify itself for more investment of your time. Also, done correctly, if the person that picks up the phone isn't the owner, you most likely will end up with a decision maker's name.

    This is what I share with my readers and it works.

    Try it ...IF you do have to cold call.

    Best of luck!

    BAYO
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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    Bayo, I really don't care what people say to me over the phone. The reason why I chose cold calling was because my budget is limited at the moment and I have everything I need to cold call. I don't have the luxury right now to split test direct mail campaigns or anything else like that but would love to in the future.

    I will be mixing in some classified ads, seo, and maybe ppc soon.

    Thanks Bayo for the advice.
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    I usually want to jump someone who comes to a cold calling thread and implies that cold calling is the alternative and not the first solution...

    Usually Im appalled to say the least, at the very notion that this wouldnt be the first choice.

    But I love Mr. B, man!

    Cant question him, and there are many right ways, and different operating systems.

    I will say this that even if you LOOOOVE cold calling... (it happens), and the notion of one call closing... he has a point about saying "who would I need to speak with about that?"

    It's not the only approach but its a good one. It immediately engages the listener and knocks them off their guard and gets them into help mode.

    Good nugget "B man"

    While we are on this subject I have to say that I have personally made a lifestyle of running off poser telemarketing teachers whenever I see one, because Paul Myers needs something to watch while he is eating popcorn, and because the last thing we need are posers in the offline forum...but the teachers you have here in this thread are pretty solid...

    Me and Jason arent looking for big threads we can jump...we are looking for individuals who we can truly help and make a difference with.

    Jason I would trust my own room to...

    I believe you are solid too and you mean this!

    This should be a good one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    Ok, will be starting this either Tuesday or Wednesday. Have to get my site wrapped up and build a list.

    I also need to make sure I have the little things taken care of like contracts and how I will be taking payments. I guess I'll be using check drafts like nameless, seeing as I don't have a merchant account and wouldn't dream of using paypal.
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    “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” ― Jordan Belfort

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